Vietnam & Cambodia Adventure

October - November 2023

A 24-day adventure by Helen Read more

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Traveler Vietnam & Cambodia Adventure
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- Oct 31, 2023, 10:19am
- ☁️ 11 °C
- Altitude: 29 m
- England Hillingdon Heathrow Heathrow Terminal 4 51.461937, -0.44507551°27’43” N 0°26’42” W
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Day 1
Travel Day 1
October 31, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C
So just got on board and seems quite comfortable. Have met quite a few of my fellow travellers and seem a pleasant bunch - Steve the tour manager is a chirpy chap. Just been speaking to one lady who is on her 20th trip so I am a novice. Next stop Hanoi!Read more
Traveler Have an amazing time mum!! Looking forward to seeing your trip 🥰xx
10/31/23Reply
Traveler Looks like you have settled in for the journey - safe travels and have an amazing time xx
10/31/23Reply
Traveler Fantastic journey. Have a wonderful time . Love you lots. Mum xx
10/31/23Reply
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Traveler Vietnam & Cambodia Adventure
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- Nov 1, 2023
- 🌬 12 °C
- Altitude: 21 m
- England Falmouth Gylly Beach 50.146263, -5.07572550°8’47” N 5°4’33” W
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Day 2
Day 2
November 1, 2023 in England ⋅ 🌬 12 °C
Arrived in Hanoi at 6am - good flight apart from the large number of snorers and coughers near me.
As we could not go to our hotel until after lunch , our guide Kein took us to an artisan water puppet maker . Learnt about this ancient art and saw a small show - shame I felt so tired as very interesting. Then on to coffee by some railway tracks - train did not come by which was disappointing. I was one of the few who tried the famous egg coffee which was delicious . Then on to an early Vietnamese lunch which also was delicious at a restaurant whose claim to fame is Bill Clinton ate here - they seem to like him a lot!
Finally to our hotel and nice room on 10th floor - with panoramic views of Hanoi ( not the prettiest of cities from what I’ve seen so far ) . Then out for another super meal - really enjoying food . Hanoi very noisy and loads of scooters.Read more
Traveler Sounds like a fabulous first day.
11/1/23Reply
Traveler Which Hotel are you in? We haven't booked one yet so open to suggestions if yours is nice & central xx
11/1/23Reply
Traveler Lovely photo. The train rails were very close .enjoy the coffe I
11/1/23Reply
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Traveler Vietnam & Cambodia Adventure
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- Nov 2, 2023, 6:45pm
- 🌙 27 °C
- Altitude: 15 m
- Vietnam Thành Phố Hà Nội Ván Ho Hồ Bẩy Mẫu 21.004114, 105.84010321°0’15” N 105°50’24” E
Day 3
Day 3
November 2, 2023 in Vietnam ⋅ 🌙 27 °C
Not quite the day that was planned . A combination of a viral throat infection and chronic jet lag and I ended up at the doctors - you could not make it up but hopeful tomorrow will be a better day !
Traveler Oh Helen, get well soon & take care xx
11/2/23Reply
Traveler Hope you feel better soon mum xx
11/2/23Reply
Traveler Talk about bad luck. Medical centre looks impressive.
11/2/23Reply
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- Nov 3, 2023, 2:59pm
- ☀️ 32 °C
- Altitude: 16 m
- Vietnam Thành Phố Hà Nội Cầu Giấy 21.038478, 105.80144521°2’19” N 105°48’5” E
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Day 4
Day 4
November 3, 2023 in Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C
A better day , I slept like a baby ( thanks to tablet from doctor) and nearly over slept but feeling better - bad throat now a cold .
Very cultural day . First went to the Temple of Literature - lots of Confucius stuff and calligraphy demo and lesson . Then on to a family restaurant in south Hanoi for cookery demo and did some cooking ourselves . Next on to a lacquer place - high quality and interesting to seen them using duck shells . Traffic here nightmare and a zillion scooters everywhere.
Finally the museum of ethnology- fun fact there are 54 different ethnic minorities in Vietnam . Out for a meal tonight and then on to Halong bay tomorrow .Read more
Traveler Glad you had a better sleep!! Photos look great - glad you’re having a great time 😊
11/3/23Reply
Traveler Great to hear you had a good nights sleep & feeling slightly better.
11/3/23Reply
Traveler Tip we got last year from a young Vietnamese girl when crossing the road with the scooters was just to keep going at the same pace & not run!! x
11/3/23Reply
Traveler Agree x
11/3/23Reply
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- Nov 4, 2023, 2:39pm
- ☀️ 28 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- Vietnam Hòn Bồ Hòn 20.848537, 107.08405320°50’55” N 107°5’3” E
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Day 5
Day 5
November 4, 2023 in Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
This is late as spent the night on a cruise boat in Halong bay with no WiFi . Took all morning to drive from Hanoi , our guide giving us a verbal view of the political situation here and what it really felt like to be Vietnamese- and odd mash up of communism and capitalism with sinister undertones. We stopped off at a cultured pearl place to hear about implanting oysters to make cultured pearls( which felt rather cruel as only 30% survive ) - I didn’t make any purchases !
Arrived in Halong which is an odd place badly financially affected by covid .
Masses of cruise boats leave the terminal so whilst it’s great to see this beautiful UNESCO site - you do experience it with thousands of other people .
The yacht is very nice and we went to look at some caves by tender and then on to a beach ( equally packed with people to watch the sunset ) . Finally I treated myself to an aromatherapy massage .Read more
Traveler Great set of photos!! The room looks amazing on the boat (way better than 20 people stuck in one room together on a boat 🤣)!! Glad you treated yourself to a massage 😊
11/5/23Reply
Traveler I’m exhausted reading this - and it’s only day 5! Stay well and enjoy. X
11/5/23Reply
Lovely photos. And a great view from your room 😍Fab x [Shirley]
11/5/23Reply
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- Nov 5, 2023, 6:42am
- Altitude: Sea level
- Vietnam Tỉnh Quảng Ninh L’Arche 20.847172, 107.10733120°50’50” N 107°6’26” E
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Day 6
Day 6
November 5, 2023 in Vietnam
Up early and was off at 7am on a rowing boat to see a lagoon and monkeys . Then leisurely couple of hours on board , followed by tiring three hour journey back to Hanoi airport for flight to Da Nang and our stay in Hoi An . Learnt a lot about the ravages of the war today and the still on going affects of the agent orange and napon bombing on the population . Horrendous .
Early evening arrived at hotel that seems to be in a paddy field but it’s dark so can’t quite make it out and have a humongous bedroom .Read more
Traveler Tempting to come & bunk down with you - reminds me of Buxton !!! ❤️ xxx
11/5/23Reply
Traveler It’s huge 🤣🤣
11/5/23Reply
Traveler Such a nice hotel room!! Great photos!!
11/5/23Reply
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- Nov 6, 2023, 10:53am
- ⛅ 30 °C
- Altitude: 7 m
- Vietnam Tỉnh Quảng Nam Hoi An Cantonese Assembly Hall 15.877067, 108.32697215°52’37” N 108°19’37” E
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Day 7
Day 7
November 6, 2023 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C
A lovely walk this morning around the ancient part of Hoi An / very pretty . Lots to see ( and buy) . Went to a charity that finds work for disabled youngsters - two of the lads I was talking to were lovely .
Have discovered iced coconut milk coffee - delicious .
Then on to a herb farm and here had a foot massage and cookery lesson ( we seem to have a lot of those ) and then a relaxing few hours by pool . Discovered a balcony I didn’t know I had in my room - it’s the room that keeps on giving.
Back in the town this evening , Really delightful to walk around , beautiful colours from the lanterns .Read more
Traveler Sounds like a perfect day x
11/6/23Reply
I’ve got two tea light holders from that workshop. Very easy to miss, but a very interesting find. Intrigued by your hotel room. Sounds like a trip in itself. [Catherine]
11/6/23Reply
Traveler This is really beautiful I love the lanterns all brightly coloured . It looks a pretty town. Xx
11/6/23Reply
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- Nov 7, 2023, 10:16am
- ☁️ 27 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- Vietnam Tỉnh Quảng Nam Hiếu Nhơn Pointe de Cửa Đai 15.880875, 108.38133315°52’51” N 108°22’53” E
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Day 8
Day 8
November 7, 2023 in Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C
The day started with a jeep ride ( old US ones ) through the paddy fields , saw lots of water buffalo. And a gaggle of ducks!
Then it started to rain and basically hasn’t stopped . It has been biblical and at one point as we were walking along a pavement it was well over the ankles . We went on a covered boat trip to see fishermen but the coracle ride really didn’t happen as too wet - a few braved it but in the pouring rain around a swamp was something I thought I might as well give a miss . The pink stuff is frog spawn .
Came back to hotel and had terrific thunder and lightning . Evening out has been cancelled as Hoi An seriously flooded so stayed at hotel who rustled us up something to eat - still raining just hope it stops tomorrow.Read more
Traveler Same here now Helen & lots of lightening !!!
11/7/23Reply
You look like you’re laying claim to that jeep. [Catherine]
11/7/23Reply
I like them! [Catherine]
11/7/23Reply
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- Nov 8, 2023, 3:32pm
- ☁️ 26 °C
- Altitude: 7 m
- Vietnam Tỉnh Thừa Thiên-Huế Lăng Cô 16.238712, 108.07790316°14’19” N 108°4’40” E
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Day 9
Day 9
November 8, 2023 in Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C
So the sun shone today and barely any trace of the rain of yesterday.
Went into Hoi An for a few hours shopping and free time . That fruit basket I tried weighs a ton - great respect for the little ladies that carry them! After lunch had 3 hour journey to Hue .
Lovely hotel !
Met up with my friend Rebecca and her partner Rob for a cheeky cocktail which was lovely .
Early night for me after dinnerRead more
Traveler So lovely to see you Helen, beautiful Hotel as you said, thank you for the cocktail - the next one is on me. Enjoy the reat of your holiday x
11/8/23Reply
Fruit basket photo suggests that you’ve made a good recovery. (Not to mention the “cheeky cocktail”). Hotel room is gorgeous. Glad you’re enjoying your holiday. [Catherine]
11/8/23Reply
Traveler Lovely hotel and glad the rain has stopped xx
11/8/23Reply
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- Nov 9, 2023, 8:52am
- ☁️ 27 °C
- Altitude: 9 m
- Vietnam Tỉnh Thừa Thiên-Huế Thôn Kim Long North Central Coast 16.467603, 107.57975816°28’3” N 107°34’47” E
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Day 10
Day 10 - Hue
November 9, 2023 in Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C
Very hot day . We first went to the imperial palace . This was very badly damaged in the war and the model shows what it used to be like . Learnt about the Emperor’s concubines - not a great role as when he died you had to go and live in his mausoleum until you died!
Then we had a hair raising rickshaw ride through the town . Next on to a big pagoda which was beside the Perfume River ( not the most attractive of rivers ) We went on a boat trip over lunch .
Our final stop of the day was the last Emperors summer residence and mausoleum- quite a peaceful place . We were all flagging by now and so a nice return to the hotel for a swim in the pool . Unfortunately sore throat back again☹️Read more
Traveler That was a full on day in this heat Helen. Sorry to hear the sore throat is back. Just take care x
11/9/23Reply
Traveler Sorry to hear your sore throat has returned. Not what you want when you're on holiday visiting and seeing so many places of interest. I was expecting you to say how lovely the Perfume River was.
11/9/23Reply
Traveler Take care. Xx
11/9/23Reply
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